In this reading journal I will post the contents of and my thoughts on any books I read, regardless of whether or not I liked it or even finished it.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

REFLECTED IN YOU

TITLE:REFLECTED IN YOU

AUTHOR: SYLVIA DAY

Pages: 357

Date: 28/10/2012

Grade: 4+

Details: no. 2 Crossfire

Received from Penguin
Books

Through Book Geeks

Own

“He was my drug, and I had
no desire to kick the habit.”

“I’m
caught up with you, Eva.” With his head tilted back, Gideon pulled me down for
the sweetest of kisses, his firm lips moving gently beneath mine. “I’d kill for
you,” he whispered, “give up everything I own for you . . . but I won’t give
you up.”

And so the story of Eva and Gideon, which started in
“Bared to You”, continues. Magnetically drawn together yet incapable of
communicating and trusting each other they stumble along, moving from sexual
bliss to emotional breakdown and back again. Both carry deep and debilitating
pain from the past. And while Eva shares her pain with Gideon she is full of
insecurities and finds it impossible to trust him. Gideon, on the other hand,
can’t talk about that which hurts him most or anything else emotionally charged.
And his silence fuels all of Eva’s doubts and insecurities, making her doubt
herself and their future as a couple. They are working on it though, going to
relationship counseling and making allowances for each other. A blissful and
very erotic weekend by the seaside seems to bring them much closer together
only for Gideon to almost completely withdraw from Eva. Suddenly he misses
meetings with her, is photographed out and about with his former fiancé and
while he claims not to want to lose her, Eva can’t help but feel that she’s
being side-lined. Will Eva discovering why Gideon is behaving the way he is
bring these two desperate souls back together, or will it break them apart
forever?

There is actually a lot more happening in this book
but sharing more of the story-line would involve huge spoilers, so I won’t.
Because the story is told only from Eva’s perspective the reader has as little
idea why her lover is behaving the way he is as she does which enhances the
tension in the story and turns it almost into a mystery at times. I wouldn’t
want to spoil that for any reader.

I feel a bit ambivalent about this story. There were a lot of times I
felt totally frustrated with the characters. This book is almost an object
lesson in what not to look for in a relationship, you could almost call it a
cautionary tale. These two characters couldn’t be more wrong for each other if
they tried, and yet they so obviously belong together. It is a very confusing
situation for the reader because you no longer know what to wish for, what a
happy ending would actually look like. It does make for a fascinating
roller-coaster of a reading experience though. I was turning the pages
compulsively, in a rush to find out what would happen next, how a situation
would resolve itself or what on earth might be going on.

This is a well written book, an easy and smooth read. It is also a book with characters that
come alive on the pages, characters with depth and development. And that is not
just true for Eva and Gideon. There are other characters on the side-lines who
play just enough of a role in the story to turn this into more than just a
sensual, if troubled, romance. And those minor characters also make it possible
for the reader to come to a better understanding of the troubled lovers.

This book is dedicated to Nora Roberts and on at least one occasion
while reading this book I was strongly reminded of Eve Dallas, the main
character in the mysteries she writes as J.D. Robb. When Eva asks Gideon if
there is any part of New York
he doesn’t at least partially own, the words might as well have come from Eve
Dallas’ mouth as she addresses her own billionaire, Roarke.

In short I would describe this as a fascinating - at times frustrating -, sexy and
gripping story. I’m looking forward to May when “Entwined in You” will be
published and I will be able to find out how it is all going to end

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About Me

My name is Marleen. I'm Dutch but have been living in Ireland for well over 15 years now. I have a passion and love for reading and books. Since early 2008 I have been lucky enough to have been working part time in the library in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan where among other things I run the library reading group.
I will read almost anything that has words in it, and post my thoughts on everything I read in this blog:

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In this blog I write my thoughts on every book I read. Some I will have brought home from the library, some will have been bought while others will have been sent to me for review. I do not get paid for reading and reviewing any books and all opinions are mine and mine alone. Whether a book was borrowed, bought or received will be indicated at the top of every review.

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